Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Jan 2000

Vol. 513 No. 2

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

50 Mr. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some school principals, who have had community employment schemes withdrawn from their schools, are being offered some FÁS workers provided a course in child care or the equivalent is provided within the school for these workers; her views on these proposals; if other groups or institutions are being asked to provide these courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2081/00]

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

51 Mr. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her Department has excluded all schools from the register of suitable locations for community employment schemes; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many schools who previously had caretakers, classroom assistants and personal assistants under community employment schemes will be seriously disadvantaged; the reason such cutbacks are being made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2082/00]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 51 together.

It is not FÁS practice to provide participants for community employment projects in schools or elsewhere based on a child care course being provided. FÁS requires sponsors to provide on-the-job training for all project participants and funding is made available for such training. This training may relate to the job which the CE participant is filling or to assist them to pursue a career opportunity.

Schools have not been excluded from the CE programme. An audit of projects was undertaken in November 1999 to find out the number of CE workers employed in schools as secretaries, caretakers and classroom assistants. The result of this audit shows that there were 5,804 persons participating in CE projects in schools at that time. My Department and the Department of Education and Science have entered into discussions on this issue.

Within the context of the overall number of places on CE, FÁS has operational responsibility for project selection and appraisal. It is FÁS policy that projects providing quality work experience for participants and worthwhile services to community groups will get priority, particularly where they lead to good progression to further education-training or employment. The type of experience gained by participants in schools projects does not, in general, lead to good progression opportunities.